Leaving the Desert

So we leave the desert tomorrow to head home. This has been quite a trip. There was the blown engine, a flat tire, plus the other normal maintenance items that one has aboard an RV. The RV is a home put on wheels. “Earthquakes” are frequent therefore the home needs constant maintenance; systems have to be monitored and repaired.


We’ve run the gamut for weather. Early we dealt with cold and wet. Today it was 100 degrees.

This two month trip was designed to check in with friends and relatives, explore San Diego, and explore southern CA and AZ for possible winter long term housing. Financially, it has never been in our capacity to consider real estate in the southwest. Now, with homes selling at 50% of 2007 numbers, opportunities abound. However, Barb and I are not ready to give up life on the road.

The mobility we had on this trip really affirmed our nomadic tendencies. Our times with relatives and friends in Medford and Sacramento were special. When the engine blew 40 miles north of our San Diego destination, it was a huge financial blow but opportunities rose out of that setback. We would have never experienced Ocean Beach and we had our first experiences with SoCal laidback lifestyle. We hoteled our way through SD and made the best of it. But we know we missed some significant experiences at the RV park in Chula Vista, our original destination.

We recovered to travel east of SD to see the Border Patrol (and talked with them) scouring the hills above us (Pio Pico). We left there to climb east above 4,000 feet then down below sea level on our way to Yuma. We found that Yuma has flourished (we saw nothing that describes Yuma as flourishing) due to its proximity to cheap healthcare in neighboring Mexico. We spent time in Casa Grande and visited Barb’s cousin in Tucson.

Phoenix was better this time with great times with our Mariners. Even though Camille threatened to throw me out for partying near the Mariner’s front door, Brian and Kay, Bruce and Kris, Karen and Gene, are always welcoming. This time Gordon and Carol joined Wayne and Laurie at their new home in the area. Bruce and LouAnn, Pam and Don were camped just a few spaces from us. Phoenix kept us busy. Fun.

Camping on the historical Colorado River, the border between AZ and CA, was special with cousin Karen and Bill next door.

Then we drove to Thousand Trails in Palm Desert, just two miles down the road from sister Hope (the lady with 3 names aka: Corinne, Connie) and Spitz (LeRoy) and brother Gene and Lola. We so enjoyed time with family. Twelve days in one space is a luxury, especially since it is covered by our membership. It has turned uncomfortably hot, a signal that it is time to go home. A long trip is ahead. Miles of fond memories are behind us. Life is a journey. There are peaks and valleys. There are many, many peaks.